June:

Young Deni swimming talent Luca Caniglia continued his good form, setting new personal best times at the NSW All Schools Swimming Championships at the Sydney Olympic Park Aquatic Centre. He swam in the 50m (4th place), 100m (4th) and 200m (5th) breaststroke finals and swam personal best times in all events.

A piece of Australian sporting history and, more importantly, Deniliquin sporting history came ‘home’ to Deni South School. A batting pad which once belonged to former South School student and Australian Cricket Team wicketkeeper Adam Gilchrist was gifted to the school. The donor reached out after learning it had an area called Gilchrist Oval, named for the cricketer whose father Stan was principal at the school, Pictured with the memorabilia are Vivienne Thomson and Ged O'Donnell. Photo by Zoe McMaugh

A new grant as announced, bringing investment in community spaces at Yarkuwa Indigenous Knowledge Centre to almost $1 million.The NSW Community and Place Grant of $220,000 was to cover an extension to provide a space for youth mentoring, study, and community meetings. Its construction will take place at the same time as upgrades funded with $75,000 from the NSW Government’s Creative Capital program in 2022 continue.Pictured is Yarkuwa chair Jeanette Crew (centre) with Property and Development NSW representatives Leon Walker and Neisha D'Souza.

On the back of winning National Trucking Industry Woman of the Year in April (pictured), Jenny Fellows was nominated for another national transport award. Nominated by Transport Women Australia Limited, she was one of six finalists for the Excellence in Transport category at the Women in Industry Awards for 2024.

Brendan Hope became the 14th football or netball player to ever reach 300 club games for the Deniliquin Rovers. Hope said although his football career started from “humble beginnings”, his love of the game has spurred him on. Brendan is pictured (far left) with fellow 300 gamers Allan Bond, Suzie Behsman, Shannon Bulmer, Liam Fleming and Daniel Mison.

Airport users and other special guests attended the official opening of the Deniliquin Airport’s new runway. Closing out almost a week spent in the southern Riverina and northern NSW, Federal Labor Senator for NSW Deborah O’Neill (right, pictured with Edward River Mayor Peta Betts) was given the honours of cutting the ribbon. The $5.9 million project benefited from federal funding, enabling the original 1219m sealed runway to be removed and replaced with a new construction.